Clonidine blocks stress-induced craving in cocaine users.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Reactivity to stressors and environmental cues, a putative cause of relapse in addiction, may be a useful target for relapse-prevention medication. In rodents, alpha-2 adrenergic agonists such as clonidine block stress-induced reinstatement of drug seeking, but not drug cue-induced reinstatement.

Objective

The objective of this study is to test the effect of clonidine on stress- and cue-induced craving in human cocaine users.

Methods

Healthy, non-treatment-seeking cocaine users (n = 59) were randomly assigned to three groups receiving clonidine 0, 0.1, or 0.2 mg orally under double-blind conditions. In a single test session, each participant received clonidine or placebo followed 3 h later by exposure to two pairs of standardized auditory-imagery scripts (ne

SUBMITTER: Jobes ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3401928 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature